Collapsible baby carriage and the like



' April 19, 1949. A. M. BOUDREAU COLLAPSIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND THE'LIKE2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 50, 1946 IN VEN TOR.

April 19, 1949. A. M. BOUDREAU 6 CQLLAPSIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND THE LIKEFiled Jan. 30, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND THE LIKE ApplicationJanuary 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,296

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible vehicles such asbaby carriages and the like. More particularly it provides an improvedreleasable latch connection for maintaining the collapsiblebody-supporting frame and the pusher handle of a collapsible babycarriage in operative body-supporting relation, with provision forfinger tip adjustment or release of the latch for varying the operativeposition of the pusher handle and for conditioning the supporting framefor a collapsing of the carriage.

Baby carriages of the general type including a collapsible framecustomarily have a generally U-shaped pusher handle pivotally mounted atopposite sides of the top frame of the carriage body, with the ends ofthe pusher handle pivotally connected, one at each side of the carriage,to a collapsible frame element. Various latching mechanisms have beenprovided for latching together the pusher handle and frame elements inoperative relative positions and for releasing them when it is desiredto collapse the carriage. However, the prior latching mechanisms haveinvolved projections and springs which have been exposed as unsightlyappendages at each side of a carriage. Also, because of theirprojection, they have constituted elements on which articles of clothingfrequently catch and become torn. Furthermore, they customarily operatewith a snap action such that the fingers of the operator may becomecaught and pinched.

It is among the objects of my present invention to provide mechanism forreleasably rigidly connecting together, at opposite sides of a carriage,the collapsible frame and the pusher handle without exposed springs andprojecting levers and with all exposed parts of the mechanism generallyfiat and smooth.

Another object is to provide a latching mechanism for each pusher handlearm and a collapsible frame element comprising a plane faced generallyflat sleeve on each pusher handle arm, with means obscured by the sleevebiasing the sleeve toward latching relation with the associatedcollapsible frame element.

A further object is to provide a simple yet effective pusher handle andframe latching mechanism in the form of a spring-pressed generally fiatsleeve which is operable by the finger tips to latch-release positionfor a collapsing of the carriage.

' Yet another object is to provide a releasable interconnection betweena collapsible carriage frame and a pusher handle, including a latchingsleeve whose release involves a merevpressing of the latching sleevealong the pusher handle against the bias of a spring which is obscuredby the sleeve.

Still another object is to provide a releasable interconnection betweena collapsible carriage frame and a pusher handle, comprising a latchingsleeve biased in one direction along the pusher handle and yieldable inthe opposite direction to effect adjustment of the pusher handle or torelease the latch for a collapsing of the carriage.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve thestructure and operation of pusher handle connections to collapsibleframes of baby carriages and thelike.

In the accompanying drawings:

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a baby carriage having a pusher handleequipped with latching mechanism embodying features of my invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric fragmentary view showing the outer side of thelatching mechanism of Fig. 1 on a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the rear side of thelatching mechanism;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the rear side of thelatching mechanism, with the latching sleeve in medial cross-section andin its latch-release position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the front side of thelatching mechanism and showing in full lines the latched relation ofelements and showing in dotted lines an unlatched and partiallycollapsed condition of the elements;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view approximately on line B6 of Figure 3;

Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view approximately on line 'l'| of Figure3;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the outer side of amodified form of latching mechanism;

Figure 9 is an edge elevation looking at the upper edge in Figure 8, andwith a portion broken away to show the latch socket or keeper;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the rear side of themechanism of Figures 8 and 9 and showing in full lines one latchedoperative relation of the elements and showing in dotted lines anotherlatched operative relation of the elements;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation looking at the rear side of anothermodified form of latching mechanism; and

Figure 12 is an edge view looking at the edge which is uppermost inFigure 11.

' Referring to the drawings, the carriage body ll) maybe regarded asrepresentative of collaps-v ible carriage bodies in general whichcustomarily have a rigid top frame l2 of wood or the like suitablycovered and padded, and body walls of flexible sheet material suspendedfrom the top frame, with a rigid bottom or floor within the walls. Thebody is mounted between two similar pairs of crossing strap metal frame.elements l4, IE, only one pair of which is visible inFig- 1. The frameelements [4, I 6 have their lower ends connected to the usual springswhich in turn are mounted on the axles 22, 24.

A bracket 26 depends from the top frame l2 at each side of the carriagebody toward the front end of the top frame, and, the. upperend of eachframe element I4 is pivotally connected to one of the brackets 25. Asimilar bracket 28 depends from the top frame. at each side of the bodytoward the rear end of the top frame, and each arm 30 of a generallyU-shaped pusher 32 is pivoted as at 34 to. one of the brackets 28, eacharm 30 having extent beyond its pivot, as at 3|, andthe extreme end ofeach arm 38- being pivotally connected, as at 35, to the upper end :oione of the frame elements l-B'.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-7, each frameelement l5 has extent beyond its pivot-a1 connection at 36 to a. pusherarm 30, 3|, and each has its extending part cut away as at 38 to providea projecting latch finger 40 whose end portion preferably is, bevelledorround ed as at 42 for a purpose which later will appear.

As best seen in Figs. 2-4, a. latch. sleeve 44 is mounted on eachextension 3! of the pusher arms 30, each sleeve having, a keeper socket46 formed therein for reception of the latch finger 40 ofv a frameelement [6, and eachsleeve having aspring 48 therein biasing the sleevein direction to en.- gag-e a finger 48 in its socket 48 when: the frame.elements It and the pusher arms 3ll, 31 are in alignment.

The sleeve 44 conveniently may be formed of a single piece of ruggedsheet metal as shown, or may beotherwise form-ed of any suitablystrongmaterial so long as it provides the resilient sliding latch features Ofthe invention with. general freedom from exposed projecting elements. Asillustrated, the sleeve has; generally flat wrapped form which nicelyand slidably receives. the extension 3| of a pusher arm 30. The front:ex.- posed face of the sleeve is plane and smooth; as appears in Fig. 2,and the-opposite edges of the generally fiat sleeve preferably areformed to provide the shoulders 50 to facilitate finger actuation of thesleeve in opposition to the. bias ofitsspring 48 for disenga ing latchfinger 40 preliminarily to a collapsing of the carriage.

The rear side of each sleeve 44 has the two relatively large tongues52,, 54 of: the sleeve stools outset from the plane of :the main rearwall-of the sleeve, the tongue 52 having the angularly related parts 55,58., and the tongue having the partially opposed singularly-relatedparts: 62, which together define the socket 46- which is open adjacentone edge of the sleeve as at 64; for a limited extent to permit swingingmovement, of latch finger 40 to and fromiengagement with part 56 oftongue 52 when; the sleeve ispressed in opposition to its spring 48enough to; release the finger.

A rectangular slot 6 6 is, formed in extension 31 of each pusher arm 30anda; small tongue 68 of the sleeve stock is depressed into the slot toconstitute an abutment against which: one. end of spring 48 constantlyengages, the springrbeing of size to, fit within the slot as seeninzFig.7,?

and being under compression with its opposite end engaged against oneend wall of the slot, whereby it yieldingly presses tongue 68 toward theother end wall of the slot. The tongue, in, consequence, limits thepermissible movement of the sleeve in direction toward the pivotal point36.

When the pusher and frame elements l6 are latched together in alignmentas in Figs. 1-4 and as indicated in full lines in Fig. 5, the end oflatch finger 48 will be restrained against movement by the parts 56 andof the outset tongues. A sliding movement of each sleeve 44 in directionaway from the fingers 48 will release the fingers 48 so that they maymove out through the edge openings 84 for a collapsing of the carriage.Fig. 4 shows the sleeve 44 moved to finger-releasing position, and Fig.5 shows in dotted lines the finger-releasing position of sleeve 44 andalso a dotted representation of a pusher arm 30, 3| and a frame elementIB when the carriage is partially collapsed, and with the sleeve 44released and moved back to its normal position.

A re-latching of the parts-with the pusher arms and frame elements It inoperative alignment involves no manual shifting of the sleeves 44.,Merely swinging the pusher counter-clocks wise about its pivot 34 causesthe parts to approach alignment, and the cam surfaces- 42 on the.fingers 40 ultimately engage the edges of the outset tongue parts 58 andcam the sleeves along the pusher arms until the fingers move past theedges. of the tongues and springs 48 then snap the sleeves back to theirfinger retaining positions.

Figs. 8,-10 show a modification in which a sleeve 1-8 is mounted on theextension 13. of a pusher arm.'l2 generally in the same manner as thesleeve 44 as. previously described, with. a spring 14 inc; slot 16 inthe. extension 13, and with one end of the spring engaging one wall ofthe slot and the otherend engaging a small inset. tongue 18; At the rearside of the sleeve the two outset tongues 88, 22'form a socket. at oneend of the sleeve for receiving the: notched end of the frame element86, which corresponds to the element I6 of the previously describedform. When the parts are inlatched operative alignment as in Fig. 8, theend of element 85 is within the socket 84 and restrained againstmovement by the tongues 80,; 82. If it is desired to adjust the pusherto a higher or lower operative position, this maybe simply and quicklyaccomplished by meansof the notches intheend. of element 86. Two suchnotches 88; 9|! are shown. The pusher may beset in a higheroperativeposition by pressingsleeve 18 tothe left asiviewedrin Fig. 8 until thenotched end of ele ment 86 is clear of the socket 84', after which thepusher: and the element 86. may bemoved relatively until the notch. 88is opposite one edge wall of: the socket 84. By'releasing the sleeve topermit said edge wall to engage in notch 88, as indicated in full linesin Fig. 10, the pusher and element;86'wil1. be latched together withthe-pusher in a somewhat elevated operative'positlon. Simi larly the.pusher may be latched'in a lower operative position by engaging theopposite edge 0! socket 841m notch 90, as shown in dotted lines-in Fig.10. By swinging the notched end of element 86 entirely clear of thesocket 84; the carriage may be conditioned for collapsing.

Another modification is shown in Figs. 11' and 12 in which the sleeve 9|has no socket but nasatongue. 82" projecting at its rear side andadapted to engageiin a single notch 94in the end of 1mm element 96 for alatching of the parts in operative alignment. The end of element 06preferably is rounded as at 98 to constitute a cam surface for cammingthe sleeve to the left as viewed in Fig. 11 when the parts are movingrelatively from unlatched to latched relation.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that I have providedcarriage pusher latching and adjustin mechanism which has the extremelyimportant attribute of providing what may be a plane and smooth outerexposed face and which is free of projecting parts and elements. Yet myimproved mechanism is simple and effective, and is easily and safelyoperable by mere pressure of the fingers on a pair of unobtrusivelatching sleeves to condition a carriage for collapsing or to adjust theposition of the pusher handle.

I claim as my invention:

1. Frame-latching mechanism for baby carriages and the like comprisingtwo generally flat strip elements pivotally connected together with thepivot of an end of one of the elements and inward a substantial distancefrom an end of the other element, whereby the end portion of said otherelement is movable into over-lapping relation to said one element, a.generally flat member wrapped inward around said one element andslidable thereon, with the wrapped edge portions of said member at therear side of said one element, said one element having a slottherethrough within the wrapped member, a tongue formed on said memberat its rear side and depressed into said slot, a spring in said slot,concealed by said member, and engaged between said tongue and a wall ofthe slot, and coacting means on said wrapped member at its rear side andon the end of said other strip element, for releasably latching saidstrip elements against relative movement.

2. Latching mechanism for the pusher handle and collapsible frame of acollapsible baby carriage and the like, comprising a pusher handle armadapted to be pivotally connected to a carriage body and having agenerally flat end portion, a generally flat frame element of acollapsible frame pivotally connected to the end of said arm and itselfhaving an end portion projecting beyond its said pivotal connection, asheet metal member wrapped around said generally flat end portion of thearm and slidable thereon, with the wrapped edge portions of said memberdisposed on the inner side of the arm and generally concealed from View,said generally flat arm portion having a slot therein covered by saidsllidable member, and a said wrapped edge portion of said member havinga tongue of the sheet metal stock displaced laterally into said slot, aspring in said slot engaged between an end wall of the slot and saiddisplaced tongue and constantly urging the slida ble member yieldinglyin direction toward the said pivotal connection, there being at leastone other tongue at the inner side of said slidable member displaced outof the plane of said member, and means at the end portion of said frameelement adapted to coact with the latter said tongue to releasably latchthe arm end portion and the frame element extension against relativemovement.

3. Latching mechanism for the pusher handle and the collapsible frame ofa collapsible baby carriage and the like, comprising a generally flatpusher handle arm portion and a generally flat frame element portionpivotally connected together with the pivot at an end of the arm portionand inward from an end of the frame portion, whereby an end part of theframe portion and an end part of the arm portion are swingablerelatively into and out of superimposed relation, a piece of sheet metalwrapped around said arm portion and slidable thereon, with the wrappededges of the piece at the inner side of the arm portion, said armportion having a slot therein concealed by said sheet metal piece, atongue formed on said sheet metal piece at its rear side and depressedinto said slot, a spring in said slot, concealed by said sheet metalpiece and under compression between said tongue and an end wall of theslot, at least one other tongue on said sheet metal piece at its rearside and displaced out of the plane of the rear surfaces of the piece,and means at the end of said frame portion for latching coaction withthe latter said tongue.

4. Latching mechanism for the pusher handle and the collapsible frameofa collapsible baby carriage having a generally fiat pusher handleelement pivotally connected to a generally flat frame element, saidmechanism comprising a piece of sheet metal wrapped around one of saidelements and slidalble thereon, with the wrapped edge portions of thepiece concealed at the inner side of the element, a slot in the elementabout which said piece is wrapped and concealed by said piece, a tongueon said piece, at its concealed rear side, and displaced into said slot,a spring in said slot concealed by said wrapped piece and undercompression between said tongue and the end wall of the slot most remotefrom said pivotal connection, at least one other tongue on said wrappedpiece concealed at its rear side and displaced out of the general planeof the rear surfaces of the piece, and means on the other generally flatelement adapted to coact with the latter said tongue for latching saidelements against relative movement.

ALBAN M. BOUDREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 57,656 Alden Sept. 4, 1866663,857 Browder Dec. 18, 1900 738,554 Lingel Sept. 8, 1903 2,063,242Graser Dec. 8, 1936 2,285,700 Feldman June 9, 1942

